The first batch of students comprising four girls studying MSc and professors selected from government arts and science colleges in Tamil Nadu for the Study Abroad Programme left for United Kingdom on Wednesday.
Ahead of their journey, 14 students and three professors met Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa at the Secretariat on Tuesday and received their journey tickets and permission letters from foreign universities for their study from her.
The MoU for the first of its kind initiative in the country was signed on December 14 between South India British Council and the Tamil Nadu State Council for Higher Education. The students and faculty chosen for this programme will be nominated to study at various universities in United Kingdom this year and in the universities in Asian and Far East countries in the coming years.
The Chief Minister has granted Rs 4.5 crore per year (15 lakh for each student) for providing this training. During the first year, 25 students and five teachers would get this training.
The selection of students and faculties will be done applying rigorous selection modules to enable them to accommodate themselves to the new culture and language. Tests were held for students of six universities in Tamil Nadu and 48 students were selected for this programme. Later, after rigorous training in English language skills and other tests, 25 students have been chosen for the programme.
Of the 25 students, in the first batch, four girl students studying MSc, and a professor left for Britain on Wednesday morning. The rest of the students and professors will leave for other countries on September 21 and in January next year.
The MoU signed for this training would be for three years. The Study Abroad Programme provides opportunity to the meritorious under-privileged, post graduate students in Government Arts and Science Colleges.
The students under this programme will experience international exposure with greater understanding of the multiple perspectives of international issues.
Students would spend a full semester in the new country.